Hike in medical fee at veterinary hospitals, fisheries to pinch farmers in Punjab
As per the revised fee structure, rates for some facilities have been increased upto 1,000%
Though the state government has been claiming to promote allied businesses along traditional farming to save farmers from ‘agriculture crisis’, the department of animal husbandry, fisheries and diary development ‘gave a shock’ to small farmers and pet lovers by increasing medical expenses and diagnostic test fee across the state.
In an order (dated 10/08/2018) passed by GVajralingam, additional chief secretary to government of Punjab, department of animal husbandry, fisheries and diary development, which was sent to all the districts by the director animal husbandry on August 20, says the directions should be implemented with immediate effect.
As per the revised fee structure, the X-ray charges of animals have been hiked from ₹50 to ₹100, major operation fee from ₹125 to ₹250. Ultrasound charges have also been increased from₹75 to ₹125, while the prices of A I Imported Sexed Semen also shocked more which earlier costed ₹700 and will now cost ₹1,000.
Fee for the export certificate has also been increased to ₹500, earlier, it was ₹300. Meanwhile, the livestock owners will now have to pay ₹200 for the postmortem certificate which was provided free of cost in the past.
Ironically, the dog lovers will also have to pay more charges for the treatment of their pets in the government veterinary hospitals of the state.
As per the new notification, the OPD fee has been increased from ₹10 to ₹50, while the major operation will now cost ₹500, earlier it costed ₹125. The urine examination will cost ₹25,earlier it was held free of cost. While, the price for the rabies dose has also been increased to ₹50 from ₹5 per dose.
The farmers will now have to pay ₹200 more for the project report of ponds to prepare plan and estimate for fisheries. Earlier, it was ₹300 but now it has been fixed at ₹500 (for the land upto 2.5 acres) and ₹1,000 (for the land that is more than 2.5 acres).
Meanwhile, for testing the quality of soil and water, the farmers will have to pay ₹100 (for the land upto 2 acres) and ₹200 (for the land above 2 acres). The license fee has been determined at ₹5,000 for an year, earlier it was ₹1,000.
“The Congress government promised to debt waiver to save small farmers but the recent decision shows that government wants to kill farmers. The marginal farmers are running their economy with the help of their livestock. The decision should be withdrawn,” said state president of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU-Ugrahan) Joginder Singh.
The staff of a veterinary hospital also said the decision will affect their targets. “The aim of these institutes is the welfare of citizens but the government is trying to earn more money from the hospitals. The private companies are also entering into this field as government is allowing them to earn revenue,” said Dr Gurcharn Singh, president, state animal husbandry officers’ welfare association.
“As per the revised fee structure, there has been a rise of 200 % to 1,000% in the rates,” Gurcharn said.
However, despite repeated attempts director of the state animal husbandry department, Dr Amarjit Singh could not be contacted for the comment on the revised fee structure.